Cong for restrictions on opinion polls during elections

The Congress has backed Election Commission’s (EC) views on restricting publication and dissemination of opinion polls, saying the random surveys are “erroneous”, “lack credibility” and could be “manipulated” by vested interests.

The EC sought views of various political parties on the issue of banning opinion polls after the government asked it to hold fresh consultations on the issue.

In a written reply to the commission on October 30, the Congress said it “fully endorses the views of the EC to restrict publication and dissemination of opinion polls during the election”.

“In fact, the opinion polls during elections are neither scientific nor is there any transparent process for such polls,” said KC Mittal, secretary of the AICC Legal and human rights department.

The party said the random survey conducted “lacks credibility” and could be “manipulated and manoeuvred” by persons having “vested interest”.